Fluid pump regulator



Sept. 2, 1947. F. E. JAMES FLUID PUMP REGULATOR Filed 001;; 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 k W5 ,m a?

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Sept. 2, 1947. F. E. JAMES 2,426,737

' FLUID PUMP REGULATOR Filed Oct. 1, 1945 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 K QR- 12 T I I Q l INVENTOR. L fiAm/ru/v 5 72/1/55 I. L

. I'M A Patented Sept. 2,1947

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID PUMP REGULATOR Franklin E. James, Almont, Pa., assignor to Mack Manufacturing Corporation, Long Island City, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1945, Serial No. 619,564

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a fluid pump regulator.

Certain objections to known fluid pump regulators are that it is a relatively slow process to set the regulator for the desired pressure by hand, and this manual setting of the regulator requires appreciable physical effort, and, furthermore, it is diflicult to maintain a uniformity of pressure.

The main object of this invention is to provide a fluid pump regulator to overcome these objections which is operated by an application of hydraulic pressure developed by the pump to provide for a fast setting of the regulator and control of the pressure of the pumped fluid by mechanism which is relatively simple, and which is reliable.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which,

Figure 1 shows a schematic arrangement of the fluid pump regulator, a throttle control, and a fluid pressure pump;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the regulator looking upwardly on the line 2-2', of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the regulator; and

Figure 4 is an end elevation looking toward the right, Figure 3.

The pressure regulator may be employed to control the pressure of a discharging stream of water for extinguishing fires as in the case of a mobile fire engine or truck driven by a gasoline engine which is also employed in operating the fluid pressure pump.

The gasoline engine, not disclosed, drives a fluid pressure pump 5 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, which delivers fluid under pressure through a pipe 1 to the region of the fire or to any point where use is made of the fluid pressure.

The speed of the engine when traveling on the road may be controlled by the usual foot accelerator, not shown, which is connected to a throttle lever ll Figure 1, connected by a shaft H to the throttle, not shown. The construction is such that the speed of the engine is accelerated when the throttle lever Ill is rocked counterclockwise.

The throttle may also be operated by a hand knob 13, Figure 1, mounted on the end of a rod l4 connected to the upper arm of a bell crank l6 pivoted at I8 and having its lower arm connected by means of a rod 20 to a throttle lever 22 free on the shaft II. The throttle lever 22 is provided with a pin 24 which abuts against the throttle lever It], so that the throttle lever Ill will be rocked counterclockwise with the counterclockwise movement of the throttle lever 22 to turn the throttle and accelerate the engine as the knob l 3 is pulled to the right. The throttle lever Ill is connected by means of a retractile spring 26 to the rod 20, so that the throttle lever It] may be rocked counterclockwise by the accelerator pedal independently of the hand knob I3 and the throttle lever 22, when these are in their home positions as when traveling on the road.

To speed up the engine for the purpose of pumping fluid the knob I3 is moved to the right until the desired pressure in the pumped fluid has been obtained, and, if desired, a gauge 26 may be provided to indicate the pressure of the pumped fluid. Suitable clutch mechanism, not disclosed, is provided for connecting the engine to the pump.

A preferred embodiment of a pump pressure regulator shown for purposes of disclosure of the invention comprises a cylinder 30 which is provided at its actuating end 3| with a flange 32 on which is seated a flange 34 of a cylinder and cap 36, closing this end of the cylinder. The flanges are secured together by bolts and nuts 38 as indicated. The inner face of the cap is provided with an inwardly extending projection 40, constituting a stop for a fluid piston 42' in this end of the cylinder. The cap is provided with a fluid inlet 43. The piston 42 is provided with an axial projection 44 surrounded by springs 46 and 48. Secured on the right-hand end of the piston 42 is a washer 5| of leather or the like held against the end of the piston by a disc 53 secured to the piston by a stud bolt 54.

The pressure end 55 of the cylinder 30 is also provided with a flange 56 on which is seated a flange 58 of a cap member 60 closing this end of the cylinder. The flanges 56 and 58 are secured together by bolts and nuts 62 with a diaphragm 64 interposed between these flanges to provide a fluid seal at this end of the cylinder. The cap 60 may also be provided with an inwardly extending projection '66 constituting a stop for the diaphragm 64 and a piston 68. The cap is also provided with a fluid inlet 61.

The piston 68 is provided with an axial projection 44a projecting into the springs 46 and 48. The axial projections 44 and 44a serve to prevent the springs from bowing and protecting the springs against too great a compression. The

a piston 58 is of slightly larger diameter than the piston 2 for purposes which will appear later.

The opposite lateral walls of the cylinder 3!! opposite the piston 68 in the pressure end 55 are provided. with longitudinally extending slots H! and H through which projects and in which operates a rod 12 which passesthrough the piston 68 and is locked'thereto by a screw stud l3.

Referring to Figure l, the pivot I8 on which the bell crank I6 is pivoted is supported on the lower end of a lever M, see also Figures 2, 3 and 4, which is pivoted on a stud i5 threaded in a transverse hole 1'6 in the wall of the cylinder 39. This lever M is provided with an opening into which the reduced end 11 of the rod #2 projects.

Fluid is admitted from the pump 6 into the actuating end 3! of the cylinder 30 through a' pipe 85, Figure 1, controlled by a valve 82 and connected to the fluid inlet 43, and into the pressure end 55 through a pipe 84 controlled by a valve 35 and connected to the fluid inlet 61.

The cylinder 3%) may be provided with. feet or perforated attaching lugs 90 for supporting and mounting the cylinder on the engine or on the frame of the fire engine or truck.

The pressure regulator may be set and the springs preloaded by first speeding up the engine and pump to develop the desired pressure. Fluid is then admitted into the actuating end 3| of the cylinder which moves the piston 32 to the left and compresses the springs. The valve 82 is then closed; and the valve 85 is opened to admit fluid into the pressure end 55 of the cylinder which compresses the springs. and moves the'piston 68 to the right, due to the fact that the piston 68 is of larger diameter than the piston 42. The relative diameters of the pistons. are so chosen that the rod 12' will be moved to the centers of the slots 10 andlla This moves the throttle lever 22 clockwise a short distance, and its position may be quickly restored by a short movement of the knob i3 to the right. With the throttle in the proper position to run the pump 'at the required speed to develop the desired pressure and with the rod 12 at the center of the slots. Hand 1 l, the throttle is placed under control of the pressure of the pumped fluid.

W'he'n the mechanism has been set as described,

the throttle lever 22 is under the control of the movement of the piston 68 when the pressure rises above or falls below that desired. When the pressure falls, the piston 68 is moved toward the left, Figure 2, rocking the throttle lever 22 counterclockwise. and speeding up the engine and the pump When the pressure rises, the piston 68 moves to the right rocking the throttle lever 22 clockwise and slowing down the engine and the pump.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood, that I reserve the right to all such changes and modiflcations as. fall within the principles or" my inventionand thev scope of theappended claims.

I claim: 7 V

1. A pressure, regulator for use with a fluid pressure creating means, including pressure chambers 1 having movable walls, a yieldable means urging said walls inwardly, one of said walls. under agiven fluid. pressure exerting greater pressure on said yieldable means than the other, means for admitting fluid under a desired pressure intc the chamber provided with the movable wall exerting the lesser pressure for preloading said yieldable'means and for holding said wall in its moved position, means for admitting fluid 'means for admitting fluid under a desired pressure into the chamber provided with the movable wall having the smaller area for preloading said yieldable means and for holding said wall in its moved position, means for admitting fluid under said desired pressure into the chamber having the movable wall of larger area and for moving it into an intermediate position, and means operated by the movable wall of larger area for maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the fluid created by said fluid pressure creating means.

3. A pressure regulator for a fluid pump driven bya prime mover provided with a speed control means, a pair of cylinders provided with compression chambers of different diameters, pistons in said chambers, a spring urging saidpistons into said cylinders, means for admitting pumped fluid under a predetermined pressure into the smaller of said chambers to preload and set said spring and for then retaining said fluid in said chamber,

means for subsequently admitting pumped fluid under said predetermined pressure into the larger of said'chambers and for moving its piston into an intermediate position, and a connection between said piston in said larger chamber and said speed control means for operating the latter by movement of said latter piston due to changes in pressure in the pumped fluid.

4. A pressure regulator for a fluid pump driven by a prime mover provided with speed control means, comprising a cylinder provided at its ends with chambers of different diameters, pistons in said chambers, a compression springinterposed between said pistons, means for admitting pumped fluid under a predetermined pressure into the smaller diameter chamber to compress and set said spring and operable also toretain said fluid in said chamber, means for subsequently admitting pumped fluid under said predetermined pressure into the larger diameter chamber and for moving its piston intoan intermediate position, and a connection between said piston in said larger diameter, chamber and said control means for operating the latterby movement of said latter piston due to changes in pressure in the pumped fluid,

5. A pressure regulator for a fluid pump driven by a prime mover provided with speed control means, comprising a cylinder provided at its ends with chambers of different diameters, pistons in said chambers, a diaphragm between the closed end of the larger diameter chamber and its piston, a compression spring interposed between said pistons, means for admitting pumped fluid under a predetermined pressure into the smaller diameter chamber to compress and set said spring and operable also to retain said fluid in said diameter chamber for moving its piston into an intermediate position, and a connection between said piston in said larger diameter chamber and said control means for operating the latter by movement of said latter piston due to changes in pressure in the pumped fluid.

6. A pressure regulator for a fluid pump driven by a prime mover provided with speed control means, comprising a cylinder provided at its ends with chambers of diiferent diameters, pistons in said chambers, a compression spring interposed between said pistons, means for admitting pumped fluid under a predetermined pressure into the smaller diameter chamber to compress and set said spring and operable also to retain said fluid in said chamber, means for subsequently admitting pumped fluid under said predetermined pressure into the larger diameter chamber and for moving its piston into an intermediate position, and a connection between said piston in said larger diameter chamber and said control means for operating the latter by movement of said latter piston due to changes in pressure in the pumped fluid, said connection comprising a link pivoted on the wall of the end of the cylinder containing the larger diameter chamber, a rod passing through the piston in the larger diameter chamber and entering said link and a throttle operating means comprising a lever pivoted on the free end of said link and manipulative means for rocking said lever.

'7. A pressure regulator for a fluid pump driven by a prime mover provided with speed control means, comprising a cylinder provided at its ends with chambers of different diameters, pistons in said chambers, a compression spring interposed between said pistons, means for admitting pumped fluid under a predetermined pressure into the smaller diameter chamber to compress and set said spring and operable also to retain said fluid in said chamber, means for subsequently admitting pumped fluid under said predetermined pressure into the larger diameter chamber and for moving its piston into an intermediate position, and a connection between said piston in said larger diameter chamber and said control means for operating the latter by movement of said latter piston due to changes in pressure in the pumped fluid, said connection comprising link pivoted on the wall of the end of the cylinder containing the larger diameter chamber, a rod passing through the piston in the larger diameter chamber and entering said link, a lever of the first class pivoted on the free end of said link, and link means connected to the one end of said lever for operating a throttle, and manipulative means connected to the other end of said lever.

8. A pressure regulator comprising a cylinder provided with chambers of different diameters at its ends, pistons in said chambers, a comp-ression spring common to and interposed between said pistons, and inlet ports for admitting fluid under pressure into said chambers.

9. A pressure regulator comprising a cylinder provided with chambers of difierent diameters at its ends, pistons in said chambers, 21. compression spring common to and interposed between said pistons, inlet ports for admitting fluid under pressure into said chambers, and fluid pressure control operating means operated by the piston in the larger diameter chamber.

10. A pressure regulator comprising a cylinder provided with chambers of different diameters at its ends, pistons in said chambers, a compression spring common to and interposed between said pistons, inlet ports for admitting fluid under pressure into said chambers, and fluid pressure control operating means operated by the piston in the larger diameter chamber, said means com.- prising a member carried by said latter piston, and a lever pivoted On said cylinder and operated by said member.

11. A pressure regulator comprising a cylinder provided with chambers of different diameters at its ends, pistons in said chambers, and a compression spring common to and interposed between said pistons, said chambers being ported to receive fluid under pressure, the relative diameters of said chambers being so chosen that the piston in the larger diameter chamber will be moved a, relatively short distance into an intermediate position by fluid under a given pressure against the compression springs when compressed b fluid under the said given pressure operating on the piston in the smaller diameter chamber.

12. A pressure regulator comprising a cylinder provided with chambers of different diameters at its ends, pistons in said chambers, a compression spring common to and interposed between said pistons, the wall of the larger diameter chamber being provided with an opening, and means carried by the piston in the larger diameter chamber and extending through said opening for actuating .a control means.

FRANKLIN E. JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,305,365 Hopkins June 3, 1919 1,685,868 Schleyer Oct. 2, 1928 

